Mourners linger at grave of murdered Traveller

There was singing and intermittent applause as hundreds of mourners, many dressed entirely in black, lingered for hours yesterday afternoon at Tom Ward's grave in Ballymote, Co Sligo.

The funeral of the young Sligo man killed by a blow from a hatchet earlier this week, was described by a local priest as "a marvellous show of respect deserving of this young man".

Speaking at the end of Mass at St Anne's Church Sligo, Fr Steve Walsh said he had watched with great pride and admiration "the courage and restraint shown by the Ward family during this sad time".

During the ceremony relatives paid tribute to the 23-year-old, with one woman praying that the family's plea for peace would be honoured. Another said that the family chain had been broken.

The most moving tribute came from family friend and neighbour Teresa Cawley who told mourners that a few hours before this "lovely quiet lad" died that he had talked to her about angels.

Tom believed in angels, she told the congregation. She had given him an angel for his van and at 11.30pm last Sunday when she had bumped into him he took the angel she carried in her car, kissed it and blessed his face with it.

A couple of hours later as his father kept vigil in the hospital she told him the story and they put the angel on Tom's chest and a very short time later he passed away. "I take consolation from the thought that the angels wrapped him in their wings and took him home," she said.

Among those who attended the funeral yesterday were local TDs, Minister of State Jimmy Devins and John Perry of Fine Gael.

The killing is widely believed to be related to a feud between two families from the settled Traveller community although gardaí say they are keeping an open mind as to the motive.

Uniformed gardaí and armed detectives mingled with a crowd of about 500 in Ballymote cemetery while dozens of officers in riot gear were on standby in a fleet of vans close by.

Mourners' cars and vans were searched at a Garda checkpoint on the approach to the graveyard with officers seizing a number of wheel braces and other tools as a precaution. There were no arrests and gardaí stood to attention as the remains of the young man were brought into Ballymote in a hearse drawn by four dark plumed horses.

About 40 men walked the last lap of the journey behind the hearse. Long after the prayers were over the crowd remained at the graveside comforting Mr Ward's parents Tom and Brigid, his wife Cliona and other family members, some of whom took turns to help fill in the grave.

Among the many floral tributes were many references to the young man's love of boxing. A number of relatives sang ballads.